Record controlled machine



Jan. 5, 1943. R. T. BLAKELY RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1939 1111111 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA wllllllllllllllA ATTORN EY Jan. 5, 1943. R. T. BLAKELY 2,307,100

RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 WyENTOR ATTO R N EY R. T. BLAKELY 2,307,100

RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1959 Jan. 5, 1943.

8 Sheets-Sheet 3 J 1943. R. 1'. BLAKELY RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 26, 1939 ATLI'ORNEY Jan. 5, 1943. R. "r. BLAKELY RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IVNTOR Y ATTORNEY wwk m E g? ow: mm Q Q .5 mm W g: 0 m Qwz .30 v QMR m m .m 0 k .W n F m a m u u w m r k E a k L 0 m Mm m R m m m mfi mwm on; mvk mum m5 L, m2 \zmws .1 fink mhm hwmw mak 3k m5 7 NNM AILIKNMA -IllmMflll R. -r.' BLAKELY RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE Jan. 5, 1943.

Filed Oct. 26, 1939 8 sheets-s eet e I lNV N Y ATTORNEY Nam W NE u o J! mac Jan. 5, 1943. BLAKELY 2,307,100

RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 j I erg RH2 PS9 I R72 P59 Ree Rrz R02 FIG. 40. I

, E 2mm 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORE ATTORNEY R. T; BLAKELY Sik N MA H M RECORD CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed 001;. 26, 1939 Jan. 5, 1943.

Patented Jan. 5, 1943 .nnconn coNrnoLLnn momma Robert '1. Blakely, Ridgewood, N. -J., assignor to css Machines International Basin Corporation. New York, N. 1., a corporation of New York Y Application October 26, 1939, Serial No. 301,834

llclalms.

This invention relates to record-controlled machines in general and specifically to machines for sorting perforated accounting and statistical record cards.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide multi-column selecting means capable of being pre-set to represent a plurality of control numbers, a plurality of names, or a plurality of different combinations of numbers and letters.

Another object of the present invention is to provide multi-column selecting means capable of comparing control number designations in a single record field with a plurality of separate control number representations, in accordance with which the selecting means has been pre-set and controlling the operation of the machine difi'erently for each record which agrees with one of the settings of the selecting means whereby the machine operates in the same way with respect to all records having the same control number but operates differently for the records having control numbers agreeing with the other settings of the selecting means.

Another object is to provide a multi-column selector device which may be pre-set to select records having predetermined alphabetical data, numerical data, or combinations of both alphabetical and numerical data.

An object is to provide a multi-column selector device which is capable of functioning successfully when the size of the record field may vary during the passage of the records through the machine as, for instance, where old record forms of inadequate capacity may be mixed with new record forms having greater capacity for the recording of data in the field containing the designations controlling the machine.

A further object is to provide a means for differentiating records according to type, that is, wholly alphabetical, wholly numerical, and certain types involving various permutations and combinations of alphabetical and numerical data,

and controlling the operation 'of the machine variably according to thetype of record.

An object is to provide .a machine capable of sorting records according to type which does not require the use of separate special designations to distinguish the various types from each other,

but difierentiates the types according to the nature and disposition of the data on the record.

An object is to provide means to enable a multi-column selector device to function proper- 1y notwithstanding the fact that there may be a lack of uniformity in the practice of treatin unused columns of a record field or that certain columns of a field may be deliberately left blank for some special purpose. This object may be made more clear by stating that it is sometimes the practice to perforate the records with zeros in the columns to the left of the highest digit recorded. Thus "29 is sometimes recorded in a six column record field as 000029, perforating the zeros instead of simply leaving the remaining four columns blank after perforating the units and tens columns to represent 29. Also, in recording alphabetic data, such as names and addresses it is common practice to separate the parts of a name or address by means of blank columns in order that subsequently the tabulating machine may be enabled to print the alphabetic data with the several parts correctly spaced.

An object is to provide a multiple multi-column selector device capable of selecting alphabetically designated records with means to enable the selector device to differentiate between two records having the same name, for instance, belonging to two different persons, who can only be distinguished from each other by the address or the account number.

Another object is to provide a multi-column selecting device comprising a plurality of denominational orders, each settabl to represent a single digit of a number or a character such as a letter of the alphabet, which selector device is adapted to be split arbitrarily into a plurality of sections, each of which may comprise a plurality of orders, whereby said device may be set to represent a plurality of numbers, names, or com- A binations of numerical and alphabetical data which may be represented by data designations in a single record field. I

Further objects of the'instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawings? Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing more or less diagrammatically the card feeding, sensing, and sortingmechanisms. I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the manually settable data retaining devices for controlling the machine to segregate records accorddata. 0

- Fig. 3 is a large scale diagrammatic view in perspective illustrating the construction of one order of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4a, 4b, and 40 together form a wiring diagram of a machine embodying a plurality of manually settable data retaining devices like the one illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is an electrical time chart.

Fig. 6 is a considerably simplified form of the wiring shown in Figs. 4a., 4b, and 4c to more clearly illustrate the basic principle of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a simplified manually settable data retaining device suitable for controlling the machine in accordance with numbers only.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 in Fi 6.

Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, are supplemental wiring diagrams to illustrate the plugging of the machine for various functions. I

The principle on which the present invention is based will first be described with reference to a simple form in which the machine is controlled in accordance with numbers only, such as serial numbers, code numbers, account numbers, and so on, which may consist of one or more digits.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show a form of the invention in which the alphabetic multi-column selection feature has been eliminated to facilitate understanding the basic principles of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in the drawings as applied to an electrically controlled sorting machine of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,741,985 in which the distribution of the cards to the several pockets is effected by means .of a series do of sorting blades controlled by a single magnet. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in its application to the specific form of sorting machine disclosed in said patent but may be embodied in other sorting machines. Nor is the invention limited to sorting machines as it may be usefully employed in other recordcontrolled machines, such as record-controlled tabulating machines.

In order to embody the present invention in a machine like the one disclosed in the above patent, the single card sensing brush disclosed therein, together with the usual brush shifting' mechanism, is replaced by two complete sets of brushes spaced apart the equivalent of one cycle of card feed. These brushes are designated BI and B2 in Figs. 1, 4a, 40, and 6. This requires that two additional sets of feed rollers be provided with consequent changes in the dimensions of the machine framework to accommodate the additional feed rollers. Aside from these changes, little alteration in the mechanical structure of machine of Patent No. 1,741,985 is required. The additional moving parts required by the. present invention consist of a plurality of circuit timing cam-actuated contacts designated CCI to CC8 in the drawings, two impulse emitters El E2; and a commutator Cl, all of which may be assembled as a separate unit and driven in suitable fashion from the main drive shaft l0 (Fig. 1) whereby the commutator Cl and the contacts CCI to CC8 rotate once per card 'cycle and emitters El and E2 rotate one-half revolution per card cycle. The commutator C2 is similar to the usual single column selecting commutator described in Patent No. 1,741,985 which turns at the rate of one revolution per card cycle. The remaining elements of the circuits, consisting of relays, switches, and the manually settable data retaining devices for one or more separate units which may be connected to the machine only by wires or may be mounted directly on the machine frame as desired.

The invention includes a plurality of manually settable multi-column selector devices or unitseach of which comprises a plurality of sections 'or denominational orders whereby a plurality of multi-digit numbers or multi-letter alphabetic combinations such as names may be introduced into the machine and retained therein.

A simple form of unit suitable for numbers only is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 for the purpose of making clear the principles on which the inven- Figs. 2, 3, 4a, 4b, and 40. Thus the wiring for only three units is shown in Figs. 4a, 4b, 4c, and 6 in order to simplify the wiring diagram as much as possible. It will be understood, however, that each unit may have more or less than three denominational positions or sections and as many units as desired may be provided, or a single large unit may be provided which may be split into sections.

The reference numeral l l in Fig. 1 designates the usual card hopper for a batch of perforated record cards l2 from which batch certain cards are to be selected and deposited in the pockets according to the settings of one or more of the selector units. It will be understood that the cards l2 are placed in the hopper II in the usual way, that is, face down with the 9 index-point positions at the left.

Picker mechanism of well known form, generally designated IS in Fig. 1, removes one card at a time from the hopper II ,and moves the card to the first set of feed rollers M on the right which grip the card and advance it to the left. Similar sets of feed rollers l4 carry the cards under the sensing brushes Bl, B2 and over contact rollers CRI, CR2 cooperating with said brushes. There are as many brushes in each set as there are columns in the'cards and the brushes are so spaced that the two sets of brushes si-.

multaneoously sense corresponding index-point positions of two successively fed cards.

The sorting guide blades l5 are controlled by sorting magnet SM and, as usual, are so disposed that the left hand edges of the cards have a position just underneath the end of the blade I 5 1 leading to the pocket corresponding to the value ets PSI, PS2, respectively (Figs. 4a, 40, and 6).

the numerical or alphabetic data may be built as Whenthe machine is to be used for simple sorting operations, a plug wire is inserted between a plug socket PS3 and the plug socket PS2 corresponding to the brush B2 sensing the selected column of the cards, and a switch SI is placed in the position shown in Figs. 4c and 6 by solid lines.

Assuming that sorting is to be accomplished such a relation that one of the brushes 28 for I under control of the perforations in a given column and a hole occurs in the "7" position, the following circuit will be estabilshed at the "1" point in the cycle: Linewire W (Figs. 4c or 6), sorting magnet SM, switch SI, commutator 02, common brush CB2, contact roller CR2, brush B2, the plug wire between. plug sockets PS2, PS2, and sorting relay SR, to line wire W2. Relay SR closes its contacts to shunt the operative brush B2 while the sorting magnet SM draws down all of the blades to the left of the 7 blade (Fig.

. 1) as described in the above patent. The card having the "7" perforation is guided between the "6" and "7 blades and eventually drops in the "7 pocket. If no perforation appears in the column of the card sensed by brush B2, the card passes underneath all the blades and eventually falls in the reject pocket.

Switch SI is placed in the position shown by the broken lines in Figs. 4c and 6 for multi-column selecting operations to place the sorting magnet SM in circuit with emitter E2. The control numbers of the records to be segregated are inserted in the machine by setting manually settable selector devices, there being a plurality of such devices provided for this purpose, each capable of being set according to a single number comprising a plurality of digits.

These selector devices, in a simple form, may consist of a plurality of number wheels i6 (Figs. 7 and 8) rotatably mounted on a shaft l1 supported by frame plates i8. The wheels may be made of some form of molded composition such as Bakelite, and may be arranged in groups on shaft l1, each group constituting one selector device. As shown in Fig. 7, each group has three wheels whereby any number having three digits or less may be introduced into the machine, and for this purpose each wheel I6 is notched at intervals to facilitate turning the wheels by hand and also, in cooperation with a spring detent i9 (Fig. 8), to hold the wheels in set position.

25. projections. are electrically connected by means The faces of the projections formed as a conring between the numerals 0 and 9, as shown in Fig. 7. The casing 20 is provided with slots through which the wheels l6 project to enable them to be turned. Since it is necessary that several of the engraved projections extend .through the slots in casing 20 to provide sumcient gripping surface to turn the wheels, it is convenient to have a mark of some kind on casing 20, such as a wide index band 2| of a color contrasting with that of the casing, to provide a reference point opposite or in register with which each of the numerals or letters on the wheels 16 may be brought as desired.

Secured to the side of each wheel i8 is a brush holder 22 (Fig. 8) of conducting material having two diametrically opposite brushes 23. Associated with each wheel I 8 is an arcuate member 24, preferably molded from plastic insulating material. secured to two support bars 25 extending parallel with, and on opposite sides of. the shaft 11. Each of the members 24 has a series of eleven commutator segments 28 having the same angular spacing relative to the shaft 11 as the projections on the wheels I 8. The segments are evaluated B, on, 1, n g y n y 7, n "9", in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 8.

each wheel will bear on the correspondingly designated, segment 28 when the associated wheel is manually set to bring a given numeral or the blank projection on the wheel in register with the index band 2!. Thus, if a wheel It were set at "6", one of the associated brushes 23 will bear on the 6" segment 28.

Associated with each row of segments 28 and onthe opposite side of shaft I1 is a separate semicircular common contact strip 21. The latter are seated at their ends in shoulders formed in the members 24 and are clamped in place by means of clamping strips 28 individual to each contact strip 21. The clamping strips are secured at their ends to bars 29 ofinsulati'ng material secured to bars 25. When one brush 23 of a pair is resting on any one of the segments 28, the other brush rests on the associated contact strip 21. Thus each denominational order of the selector device comprises a wheel l8, a pair of brushes 23, a row of segments 28, and a common contact strip 21.

The correspondingly valued segments 28 of all the selector devices, except those for the blank of bus wires W8 to W9 to one of the segments of emitter El (Fig. 6) whereby the segments 28 are progressively electrically connected to line wire Wl3 in synchronism with the sensing of the perforated record cards by the brushes Bl. For example, all the 6" segments 28 are electrically connected to line wire Wll when the brushes Bl sense the 6 index-point positions of a record card. The segments 28 for the blank projections are connected together by a bus wire WB. Emitters El, E2 may be of a form well known in the art, comprising-a rowof ten segments 3| (Fig. 6) each corresponding to one of the index point positions 0" to 9" inclusive, a pair of rotary brushes 32, and a common contact strip 33 disposed in the same general fashion as the brushes 23, segments 26, and contact strip 21 of the selector devices. The brushes of emitters El, E2 are rotated in synchronism with the sensing of the cards by brushes Bl, B2 by means of a suitable connection'to shaft l8 (Fi 1).

The common contact strips 21 for the units,

tens, and hundreds orders of each selector device are connected to relays RUI, RTI, and RHI, respectively, associated with that device, there being a separate relay for each order of each device.

Only the six relays RUI, RTI, RHI corresponding to two selector units are shown in Fig. 6 in order to simplify the drawing. The coils of these relays are all connected to a common bus wire W40 leading to line wire WM. There are three 'brush relays BRUI, BRTI, BRHI each having a plurality of pairs of contacts A in series with the contacts 13 of relays RUI, RTI RHI and the coils of relays RU2, RT2, EH2 across bus wires W50 hand relay RU2 will be energized over a circuit from line wire Wll, bus wire W10, coil of righthand relay RU2, contacts-A of relay BRUI, contacts B of right-hand relay RUI, and bus wire W50, to line wire WIS.

It is apparent that for each selector device The brush holders 22 are secured to wheels IS in comprising three denominational orders 'there are two sets of relays RUI, RTI, RHI, and RU2, RT2, RH2, respectively, and three sets of contacts A which are operated by the three relays BRUI, BRTI, BRHI. It will be observed that the association of these relays denominationally is indicated by the letters U, T, H" denoting the relays belonging to the units, tens, and hundreds orders, respectively. 'Thus with the relay BRUI there is associated two pairs of relays RUI, RU2 corresponding to the units orders of the two selector units shown diagrammatically at the top of Fi 6.

Rei s BRUI, BRTI, BRHI' correspond to the units, tens, and hundreds columns of a field on the card in which control numbers, such as account numbers are recorded by means of data designations. These relays are individually connected to plug sockets PS4 whereby the relays may be connected to the three brushes BI sensing the control number field by means of plug wires PW inserted between the plug sockets PSI and PS4. The letters U, T, H adjacent brushes BI in Fig. 6 designate the denominational orders sensed by the respective brushes BI.

It will be assumed that it is desired to segregate from each other and from the remaining cards of a batch, those designated with account numbers 99I and 992. These numbers may be ntroduced into the machine by turning the units wheel IE of the left-hand selector unit in Fig. 6 to register 1" and similarly set the right-hand un t to 2 in the units order. The other wheels of both selector units will be set to 9. The brushes 23 of the respective orders are thereby rotated so that the 1 segment of the units order of the left-hand selector unit is electrically connected to the associated common strip 21 and hence to the coil of the left-hand relay RUI. The 2 segment of the units order of the righthand unit is similarly connected to the righthand relay RUI, while the,9 segments of the remaining orders are connected to the corresponding relays RTI, RHI.

Let it be assumed that the first card is designated 991. At the 9" point in the cycle in which the first card passes brushes BI, two initial and co-incidental circuits will be established for both the tens and hundreds orders of both selector units. The 9 hole in the tens column permits a circuit from line wire Wl3, through the 9 segment of commutator CI, brush CBI, contact roller CRI, tens brush BI, a plug wire PW, and relay BRTI, to line wire WI4. Relay BRTI closes those sets of contacts A which are in series with the respective relays RT2. The second circuit extends from line wire Wl3; through common strip 33, brushes 32, and the 9 segment of emitter El; bus wire W9; the 9 segment 26, brushes 23, and common strip 21 for the ten order of the left-hand selector unit in Fig. 6; the left-hand relay RTI, and bus wire W40 to line wire WI 4. Both of these initial circuits are momentary and are broken by commutator CI before the brush BI for the tens column leaves the 9 hole in this column. Similarly relay BRH, both relays RHI and the righthand relay RTI are energized at the same time.

As a consequence of the simultaneous closure of the contacts A of relay BRTI and contacts B of both relays RTI, two parallel and identical circuits are established through the coils of the relays RT2 as follows: Line wire WI3, contacts B of both relays RTI, both sets of contacts A of relay BRTI, the coils of both relays RT2, and

bus wire W10, to line "wire WH. In a similar way relay RH2 is energized at the 9 point in the cycle since the hundreds column of the control number field has a 9 hole.

When the "1" hole in the units column of the control number field is sensed by the units brush BI, both the relay BRUI and the left-hand relay RUI will be energized, since one of the I brushes 23 for the units position of the left-hand unit will be resting on the 1" segment. Consequently, the left-hand relay RU2 will be energized at the 1 point in the cycle. All of the relays RU2, RT2, RH2 of the left-hand unit are now energized and close their contacts C to establish holding circuits for themselves, typically as follows: Line wire WI 3, contacts CCI, contacts 6 of left-hand relay RU2, and bus wire W10, to linewire WM.

Relay RU2 for the right-hand unit is not energized as at the 2 point in the cycle only the right-hand relay RUI is energized, while at the 1" position in the cycle only relay BRUI and the left-hand relay RUI can be energized. Thus, at the end of the card sensing period of the cycle, the left-hand group of relays RU2, RT2, RH2 are all energized while only relays RT2, RH2, of the right-hand group are energized.

The relays RU2, RT2, RH2 operate pairs of contacts designated F and G in Fig. 6, each relay opening contacts F and closing contacts G whenever the relay is energized. The contacts F are connected to plug sockets PS9 while contacts G are connected to plug sockets PS5 which make it possible to connect the contacts F and G in any desired way, whether series, parallel, or series-parallel. The purpose of this arrangement will be made clear hereinafter. Each selector unit has associated with it a group of such contacts F and G.

There is also provided a number of relays designated RI, R2, and so on, each of which controls the disposition of a record in a particular pocket. The coils of the relays RI, R2, etc., are connected in common to the line wire WI4 through bus wire W and individually to plug sockets PSI 0 to enable any of these relays to be connected by plug Wires to any of the contacts F and G by means of the plug sockets PS5 and PS9. The contacts H of the relays RI, R2 are connected in common to contacts CC3 through bus wire W20 and individually to the coils of the relays whereby energization of any of these relays establishes a holding circuit for itself extending from line wire WM, bus wire W90 through the coil of the relay, its contacts H, wire W20, and contacts 003, to line wire WI3. The relays RI, R2, etc., close contacts I which are connected in common, by a wire WI 00, to the line wire WI3 and individually to plug sockets PS5 by means of which the contacts I may be connected to any one of the plug sockets PS1 which, in turn, are connected to the segments of emitter E2.

It will be assumed that it is desired to place the cards designated Bill and 992 in the "7 and 11 pockets, respectively. Accordingly, relay RI may be placed in series with all the normally open contacts G of the relays RU2, RT2, RH2 of the right-hand selector unit (Fig. 6) and with the cam contacts 002 by inserting plug wires between the plug sockets PS8, PS5, PS5, and PS1 as shown by dotted lines. As a result of this plugging the relay RI will be energized whenever all three of the contacts G associated with the right-hand selector unit are closed. In a similar manner, the contacts G associated with the relays RU2, RT2, RH2 of the left-hand unit are connected inseries with the relay RI. The conto the plug socket PS'I- associated with the 11" segment of emitter E2 and the contacts Ilof relay R2 are similarly connected to the plug socket PS1 associated withthe 7 segment.

Cam contacts CO2 close before CCI open (Fig. 5) near the end of the cycle and energize relay R2 by a circuit extendingfrom. line win WM, bus wireWQil, the coil of relay R2, the plug wire, contacts G or the left-hand group of relays RU2, RT2, EH2 in series, the plugwire, bus wire W80, and contacts 002, to line wire WIS. Contacts CC! close about the same time as contacts C02 and relay R2 is kept energized through most of thefollowing cycle by a holding circuit extending from the coil of relay R2, through contacts H of said relay, and contacts CO3, to line wire Wl3.

While the brushes Bl are sensing the second card, the leading edge of the first card will be passing under the ends of the sorting blades i5 (Fig. 1). At the "7 point in the cycle, when the first card is just under the end of the 7" blade, a circuit is established as follows: Line wire Wll, sorting magnet SM, switch SI (in dotted line position); common strip 33, brushes 32, and the "7 segment of emitter E2; the plug wire, contacts I of relay R2; and bus wire WIOIJ,

to line wire Wl3. As a result the first card,

designated I will be deposited in the 7 pocket.

If the next card bears the control number 992 a similar series of circuits is established to cause relay Rl to become energized whereby this card becomes deposited in the "11 pocket. When the control number on any card fails to agree with the setting of any selector unit, one or more of the relays RU2, RT2, RHZ of each selector unit will not be energized whereby one or more of the contacts G will remain open and prevent energization of any of relays RI, R2, and so on.

between one or the plug sockets rsa- (Fig. e) and one of .the'plug sockets PSI associated with contacts G or the relay EU! for such unit and another plug wire between the other plug socket PSl and plug socket PSII of relay Rl to confine operation of the right-hand selector unit to the units order. Another unit could similarly be set to render only the units and tens positionsof the selected unit eifective to select cards num- -bered 23 and a third unit could be set torender the units, tens, and hundreds positions eifective to select cards numbered 823.

As a matter of fact this cannot be done without supplementary control means since any card with a control number having several digits and a 3- in the units order, for instance, the one perforated 823* would have the same effect as a card designated 3 with respect to the righthand selector unit. Similarly a card designated 823- will be selected by the selector unit set to select cards designated 23 or 3. Thus, a card designated 823 would cause three of the relays -Rl, R2, etc., to be energized. Since the order of sensing the cards is 9, 8, 7 0, 11, 12, if the card designated 3 was supposed to go to the 9 pocket and the cards designated 823 to the "8 pocket the 823 cards would actually become deposited in the "9 pocket as would any card having a 3 in the units order.

When all zeros ar perforated, with the circuits so far described, as many denominational positions must be used in each operative selector unit as there are denominational orders in the largest control number. In other words, to prop;

' The foregoing explanation presumes that all columns of the control number field are perforated either with zeros or with one of the numerals "1 to 9, that is, small numbers are always recorded by perforating zeros in the columns to the left of the highest denominational order. In other'words, a number like 23" is recorded in the control number field as "023 instead of simplyleaving the hundreds column blank, as is sometimes done. Formerly it was the practice to always perforate zeros in all the unused columns of the card fields. This was done partly as a means of indicating that no other numeral should be recorded and partly because the presence of the zeros formerly was vital to the proper functioning of certain mechanisms in the machines using the perforated cards.

However, improvements in tabulators, perforating machines, and other equipment used in perforated record card accountingsystems have made it no longer necessary to always punch zeros and it is often the practice to leave blank those columns of a record field which are not needed for recording a control number.

Another point of importance is that it is quite possible that two or more of the selector units may be set in accordance with control numbers which are alike in the lower orders and differ only in one or more of the higher orders. As an example, it' might be desired to select those cards designated 3, 23, and 323. Theoretically, cards designated 003 could be selected by setting the units wheel ii of the right-hand selector unit to .33 and inserting one plug wire erly segregate cards perforated 923, 23, and 3, the cards must beperforated 923, 023, and 003 respectively, and three orders of each operative selector unit must be used. Under these conditions, either or both of the relays RHZ, RT! will be energized as a consequence of the presence of zero holes in the corresponding columns whereby the cards will be properlysorted to the pockets assigned to the difierent control numbers. However, if a card having one or both of the hundreds or thousands columns blank issensed, the relays RHZ, RT2 will not be energized and this card will be rejected in spite of the fact that it might be designated by the same control numbar with which one of the selector units is set.

Since it may be desired to sort cards which may not have zero designations in the columns to the left of the highest significant digit, as well as those that do have zero designations, means is provided that is automatically effective to energize those of relays RTI, RHI, for the tens,

means also permits the proper relays RI R2, etc.,

' to be energized when the cards have zero designations instead of being left blank.

The foregoing means includes normally closed contacts F of relays RT2, RHZ, and so on for the higher orders, andcircuits controlled by the blank segments 26 of the selector units. When it is anticipated that some of the cards may have zero holes in the columns of higher order and other cards may not, the wheels ii of the selector units corresponding to those denominationalorders which may or may not contain a zero hole are turned until the blank projection on said wheels is in register with the index line 2!. The control numbers 003 and 023, for example, will be introduced into the right-hand and lefthand selector units (Fig.- 6) by turning the wheels It to indicate BB3 and B23, respectively, the B" signifying blank." The control number "003," for example, may be introduced into the machine by turning the hundreds and tens orders of the right-hand unit (Fig. 6) to the blank position and turning the units wheel to indicate 3. In similar fashion, the wheels of the left-hand unit are turned so that this unit displays the blank position of the hundreds wheel, the 2 of the tens wheel, and the 3 of the unit wheel. With reference to Fig. 9, plug wires are inserted, as shown by dotted lines, so as to place the relay El in series with the open contacts G of the right-hand relay EU2 and the closed contacts F of the right-hand relays EH2, ET2. Plug wires are also inserted to place relay E2 in series with the contacts G of the left-hand relays ET2, EU2 and with the contacts F of left-hand relay EH2. This places relay Ei' under control of contacts F of right-hand relays EH2, ET2 and contacts G of right-hand relay EU2 and places relay E2 under control of contacts F of left-hand relay EH2 and contacts G of relays ET2, EU2.

Let it be assumed that a card is sensed having the control number 3, with the hundreds and tens columns blank. Since no holes appear in these columns, none of relays EH2, ET2 will be energized and contacts F of these relays will remain closed and contacts G open. Both relays EU2 will be energized since both selector units are set to 3 in the units order. Since contacts F of the right-hand relays EH2, RT2 and contacts G of relay EU2 for the right-hand unit are all closed, relay El will be energized. However, relay E2 will not be energized since contacts G of relay'ET2 for the left-hand selector unit have not been closed. The circuit for relay El' .is the same as first traced above except that it is maintained through the normally closed contacts F of the right-hand relays EH2, ET2 instead of contacts G of these relays. With the contacts I of relays El, E2 plugged to the plug sockets PS1 for the 11 and 7" segments 3!, respectively, as above, the card designated 3 will be conveyed to the 11 pocket.

Now let it be assumed that a card having the control number 23 with the hundreds column blank is sensed. Contacts G of relays EU2, ET2 for the left-hand selector unit will be closed in the manner described above, while contacts F of both relays EH2 will remain closed. Since contacts G of left-hand relays RT2 and EU2 have been closed and contacts F of relay EH2 remain closed, the relay R2 will be energized to cause the card having the control number 23 to become deposited in the '7 pocket. The relay El however, will not be energized, notwithstanding the fact that it would appear from Fig. 9 that this relay should be energized by a circuit through contacts G of relay EU2 and contacts F of relays ET2, EH2.

It will be noted from Fig. that the contacts CO4 are closed from the "9 point to and including the 1 point in the cycle but are open at the "0 point. Since the wheels ii for the tens and hundreds order of the right-hand unit have been set to the blank position, the 'closure of contacts CO4 at the beginning of a cycle will establish circuits through both right-hand relays RHI, ETI as follows: line wire Wl3, contacts CO4, blank segments 26 of the right-hand selector unit, common contact strips 21 for the righthand unit, the coils of both relays ETI, EHI and bus wire W40 to linewirewll.

At the 2" point in the cycle, the brush relay BET will be energized in consequence of the 2 hole in the tens column of the card and, since relay ETI will also be energized at this time by emitter El, the relay RTZ of the right-hand selector unit will be energized notwithstanding the fact that the right-hand unit is not set to select cards designated 23. Eelay ET2 will open its contacts F and close its contacts G and this has the effect of preventing a circuit through relay El. Therefore, the card designated 23 not only has the effect of rendering the left-hand selector unit eflfective to cause the selection of this card, but it also renders the right-hand unit ineffective to select this card. i

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 9, that energization of either of the right-hand relays ET2, EH2 will have the same effect since the contacts F of such relays are in series with the contacts G of the right-hand relay EU2. It is apparent therefore that any card which has a hole other than "0 in the tens and hundreds columns will cause the energization of one or both of the relays ET2, EH2 for the right-hand unit and prevent closure of a circuit through relay RI. It is thus impossible for the right-hand selector unit to select cards which may happen to correspond in the units column to the setting of the units order of the selector unit. Similarly, with reference to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the contacts F of the left-hand relay EH2 will have the same effect on the relay E2 and any hole other than 0" in the hundreds column of the card field will cause the energization of both relays EH2 and positively prevent energizing the relays El E2.

Since contacts 004 are open at the "0 point in the cycle, a card having 0" holes in the columns corresponding to the orders of the selector units which are set to the blank position will have no effect on the relays corresponding to such column other than to cause the energization of one or more of the brush relays BEUI, BETI, BEHI, etc., and these operating alone can have no effect.

' For example, taking the case of the card designated 3 discussed above, had this card been perforated 003, the closure of contacts CC will have no effect on the right-hand selector unit and the contacts F of relays ET2, EH2 of this unit will remain closed to enable a circuit to be established through the relay RI.

The subsidiary control exercised by the relays EH2, ET2, EU2, through their contacts F, in conjunction with other means hereinafter described, makes it possible to use a batch of cards having the control number fields varying in respect to the number of columns constituting said fields. It may be found that the card forms originally designed for use in a system of perforated card accounting prove inadequate in capacity owing to a greater increase in the number of accounts or classifications than anticipated.

In order to simplify the description, it will be assumed that the card fields of the old cards are limited to two columns whereas card fields of the new cards contain three columns. It will be understood. of course, that in actual practice the card number fields will contain a considerably larger number of columns, but it would be difficult to explain the invention in reference to a larger number of columns without complicating the wiring diagram by unnecessary duplication of circuits and for present purposes, it will be assumed that the selector units comprise only three positions. For the purpose or automati Y changing the number of columns on the card which are actually compared with the selector units, there is provided a relay RI3 (Fig. 6).

Relay RII is of the transfer type having normally closed contacts J (Fig. 10) and normally open contacts K which are closed each time the coil of the relay is energized. It will be assumed that the old cards which do not have the necessary number of columns in the control number 'sible misoperat'ion incidental to the selection of fleld have a special designation such as an 11 hole in some column other than the columns containing the control number designations. The relay RII as shown in Fig. 6 has one end of its coil connected to line wire WI, whilethe other end oi. the coil is connected to a plug socket PSII through contacts CCIO which are arranged to close momentarily at the "11 point in the cycle (Fig. 5). The plug socket PSI I is connected by a plug wire to the plug socket PSI associated with the brush BI which senses the column containing the "11 hole. The contacts L of relay RIl are connected to wire W50 through the contacts CC! which open momentarily at the 15" point in the cycle (Fig. 5) while contacts J and K are connected to plug sockets PSI2, PSI3, PSI l.

There are a number of special conditions of selection which must be successfully met by the.

mechanism and in order to make clear how the circuitsare designed to cause cards to be properly selected, notwithstanding certain special conditions, the worst condition possible will be assumed in order to show hereinafter how the machine takes care of these conditions. For this purpose,.it will be assumed that the right-hand selector unit (Fig. 6) has been set to select cards designated 58 recorded by means of two perforations in a two-column account number feed, and that the hundreds wheel I6 of this unit is set to the blank position. As will be seen later, it is necessary that the right-hand unit (Fig. 6) beset in the blank position in the hundreds order in order to take care of certain such conditions which would cause an incorrect selection. The left-hand unit will be set to select cards designated 958. The contacts J and K of the special control relay RI3 and contacts F and G of relays RU2, RT2, EH2 are plugged as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10. The efiect of this plugging is to form a. normal series circuit comprising relay R2, all of the contacts G of the relays RH2, RTZ, RUZ of the left-hand selector unit, a pair of the contacts J of relay RI3, and contacts CCZ. 0n the other hand, the relay RI is placed in series with the contacts G of the right-hand relays RTZ, RUZ, contacts F of right-hand relay RHZ, another pair of contacts J of relay RI3, and'contacts CCZ.

The selector units must all be rendered operative for the maximum number of columns likely to be present in the control number field, which in this illustrative case, requires that each selector unit be made eflective for three denominational orders. This is necessary becausesome of the numbers which appear in the old cards may also appear in some of the new cards. Since the old cards are apt to contain perforations in the columns immediately to the left of the control number field, there is a possibility that some of these perforations with others in the control number field may correspond to the-settings of one or more of the selector units which have been set to select control numbers having a greater num- .cards from a batch in which the number of columns in the field varies which must be taken into consideration and prevented. These possible misoperations will be illustrated by way of exwire WI.

'It will be assumed that there is sensed one of the old cards provided with an "11" hole to a ferentlate it from the new cards and is designated 58 with the column corresponding to the hun dreds orders of the selector units blank. This blank column, of course, belongs to a diilerent field and, as will be seen later, may in some cases have a hole. In so-iar as the comparison between the holes in this card and the left-hand selector unit is concerned, this card has no effect. The reason for this is that the presence of the "11 hole in this card causes relay RI3 to become energized ,over a circuit extending from line wire WI: (Fig. 6), commutator CI, the common brush CBI', the contact roller CRI, the brush Bl sensing the "11 hole, the plug wire, plug socket PSI I contacts CCIII, and the coil or relay RI3, to line The contacts CC! close and establish a holding circuit for relay RI3 until near the end of the cycle (Fig. 5) through contacts L, the contacts CC9, and bus wire W50 to the line wire I 3.

Relay RI 3 opens all of its contacts J (Fig. 10) and thereby prevents energization of relay R2 owing to the manner in which the contacts G of the left-hand selector unit are plugged. Thus, the left-hand selector unit will not function to select any old card. With respect to the righthand unit, however, the closure of contacts K of relay RI 3 renders this unit effective only with respect to the units and tens order. Since this unit has been set to select any card designated 58, a circuit for relay RI will be established from line wire WI3, through contacts CO2, contacts K of relay RI3, the plug wire, and contacts G of relays RT2, RUZ for the right-hand unit, the plug wire, 'relay RI, and bus wire W90, to line wire WI 4. Thus this first old card is selected and will be disposed in 11" pocket.

It will now be assumed that a new card lacking the 11' hole and designated 58 with the hundredths column blank, is sensed. In this case relay 'RIS is not energized and the two comparing units function in the manner first described. The

left-hand selector unit is not operative for this card because this unit is set at 9 in the hundredths order with the result that the contacts G of relay RI-I2 remainopen to prevent operation of the relay R2. Since the blank card control is effective with respect to the hundredths order of the right-hand unit, a circuit for role)" this card will have the 11" hole, the relay RI! will confine the effect of this card to the units and tens orders of the right-hand unit and this card will be selected and deposited in the "11 pocket as in the case of the card designated 58 which contains no hole in the hundredths column.

If a new card is sensed which is designated 058, it will be selected by the right-hand selector unit, but will not afiect the left-hand unit because of the fact that this unit is set at 9 in the hundredths order and relay RH2 remains deenergized.

There are two speciad conditions which may occur owing to the fact that both units are set alike in respect to the units and tens orders but are not set alike in the hundredths orders.

An example may be taken in the case of a new a card designated 858. As this card does not have an 11" hole, relay RI3 is not energized whereby the blank card control will function in respect to the hundreds order of the right-hand unit to cause relay RHZ of this unit to be energized at the 8" point in this cycle, opening contacts F of the relay RHZ to prevent energization of relay RI. In the case of the left-hand selector unit, its relay RH2 will not be energized, since this order is set at 9, with the result that contacts G will remain open and prevent energization of relay R2. Thus, a new card designated 858 will not be selected by either unit and will be rejected.

If this card designated 858 should happen to be an old card, however, it should be selected by the right-hand unit because the control number is actually 58. In this case the relay Rl3 is ener-' gized causing contacts K associated with righthand units to become closed thereby confining the effect of this unit to the units and tens orders with the result that relay RI will be energized by the closure of contacts G of relays RTZ and RU2 of the right-hand unit. With respect to the lefthand unit, the opening of contacts J of relay Rl3 will render the left-hand unit inoperative in so far as the selection of a card is concerned; however, even if relay Rl3 did not operate, the 8 hole in the hundredths column would not set up a circuit to relay RHZ since the hundredths order of this unit is set at 9.

Two special cases must now be considered in which both of the cards, either old or new, may be designated 958 in the units, tens and hundredths columns but, owing to differences in the capacity of the card fields, one card should be selected by the right-hand unit and the other by the left-hand unit. Up until the present time, no case has been considered where the left-hand unit must differentiate between a card which is to be selected by this unit, but which has its units and tens position accidentally coinciding with the setting of the units and tens wheels of the righthand unit.

If an old card should be sensed designated 58 in the units and tens columns and accidentally having a 9 in what would be the hundredths column of a new card, it is possible that an incorrect selection might be made owing to the fact that the blank card control is not effective in this case with respect to the left-hand unit. When such'a card is sensed relay BB is operative and contacts J open the circuit to relay R2 and prevent the lefthand unit from selecting the card which is punched 9 in the hundredths column. In the case of the right-hand unit the contacts K of relay Rl3 close and confine the effect of this unit to the units and tens columns, and; since the card agrees with the setting of this unit, such card will be selected as in the case of other cards which are 76 have different conditions prevailing in the hundredths column.

If a new card should be sensed designated 958 relay RlB will not be effective, and since this card agreeswith the setting of the left-hand unit in every respect, the relay R2 will be energized and this card will be disposed in the 7" pocket. Owing to the presence of the 9 hole in the hundredths column of the card, the relay RH2 for the right-hand unit will be energized as a consequence of the blank card control, opening contacts F of this relay and preventing the energize.- tion of relay RI.

It will be seen that the relay R13 and the blank card control cooperate to insure that a proper selection may be effected under various freak conditions which arise from the change from one size field to another.

Alphabetic data is usually recorded in the record cards by means of a combinational hole code, one form of which is illustrated in Patent No. 2,079,422. This patent also shows a specimen 'record card perforated in accordance with the code described therein. This code consists of combinations of one of the holes in the 0," 11, and "12 positions with the positions 1" to 9" inclusive. Thus the letter D is represented by the combination of a 12" hole and a 4 hole in the same column of the record card. For convenience in description it will be assumed that cards like those disclosed in Patent No. 2,079,422 are o be used.

The construction of the selector units is modifled somewhat because of the larger number of selections which must be made possible for each column or order of the selector unit. Since the alphabetic selector units are capable of being set to represent both numerical and alphabetical data the term denominational order will continue to be used to refer to the part of the selector unit corresponding to a column on the record card, although the description may be concerned primarily with alphabetic selection feature.

Conveniently, the selector units will be considered, for the time being, as comprising only three denominational orders and the drawings have been confined-to disclosing three selector units each comprising three denominational orders in order to avoid confusion and unnecessary duplication of wiring. Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 7 and shows the three setting wheels 50, of one selector unit. The selector units which are capable of selecting cards bearing either numerical or alphabetic data are constructed very much like those disclosed in Fig. 7. The setting wheels 50 as shown in Fig. 3 are loosely mounted on a shaft 5| suitably supported in the machine. There may be as many of these selector units as desired, since the number which may be usefully employed is not limited to the number of pockets available for receiving cards, for a purpose which will. be made clear hereinafter.

Secured to each setting wheel 50 are four brush holders designated 52 to 55, inclusive, which are provided with brushes 52a to 52d, inclusive. The brushes 52a, 52b and 52c, 52d, respectively, are paired and electrically connected together. Associated with the brush 52a is a circular row of 31 commutator segments designated 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, and 56e. The segment 56a corresponds to the blank segment in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The groups of segments 56b, 56c comprise nine segments which are numbered numerically in Fig. 3 to correspond to the indexemitter El.

point positions of a record column while group id contains only eight segments numbered 2 to 9 since there is no "1 and combination in the code. The group We comprises ten segments including a 0 segment. The three groups 561), 56c and 56d are employed when alphabetic data is to be selected while the group We is employed only when numerical data is to be selected. I

The setting wheels 50 are notched as in the case of the simpler form oi the selector unit disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8 and the faces of the teeth are engraved or otherwise marked with the letters of the alphabet, A to Z, inclusive, and the numbers 1 to 9 and 0, and the remainimg tooth is left blank. In Fig. 3 the. brush 52a is shown resting upon the 1" segment 5612 which is the position said brush takes when the wheel 50 is set with the letter A in the viewing position, as in Fig. 2.

Cooperating with the brush 52b is a continuous segment 51 by means of which. a circuit may be established through the selector unit extending from an external wire to the ring 51, brush 52b, the brush holder 53, the brush holder 52, and the brush 52a, to the "1 segment 56b, or any other segment with which the brush 52a may be in contact. The brush 52c cooperates with a continuous segment 58 while the brush 52d cooperates with five segments designated 59a to We; The segment 59a is of the same size as segment 56:; and is disposed in such a position that brush 52d contacts with segment 59a when the brush 52a is resting upon the blank segment 56a. The segments 59b, 59c, 59d are so disposed that, for example, when the brush 52a is in contact with any of the segments 5617,

the brush 52d will bear on some part of the inside face of the segment 59b. Similarly, the segments 59c, 5911, 59c correspond to the groups of segments 56c, 56d, 56e. The segment Ste,

' however, is slightly longer than segment 5% whereby, when brush 52a is resting upon the 0 segment 56s the brush 52d will rest upon the end of the segment 59c. Thus it will be seen that for each group of segments 56b to Site there is a long segment 59b to 59c. In Figs. 3 and 4a the letters of the alphabet and numerals 1 to 0 are placed adjacent the segments which correspond to the various settings of the wheel 50.

In Fig. 4a. the three rows of segments 56a to 56c of a single unit are shown side-by-side while the three sets of segments 58 and 59a to 59c are shown in a separate group to the left of the corresponding group of segments 56a to 56d under the caption unit No. 1. Unit No. 2 and unit No.- 3 are similarly shown. All of the seginents 56b to 56c which correspond to a given index-point position are connected by means of a wire to the proper segment of emitter El and these wires are designated WI to W9, inclusive in Fig. 4a. Thus all of the segments which bear the numeral "9" inFig. 3 are connected by a common wire W9 to the 9 segment of the All of the segments 56a and segments We are connected in common to a wire WB, segments'59b to wire Wl2; segments 590 to wire WI i; segments 59d and 0'? segments We to wire W0; and segments 59a to wire Wlfl.

The emitter El rotates in synchronism with the-sensing of .a card whereby all the 9 segments, for instance, of the groups 56!) to 56c, respectively, are connected to the line wire Wl3 at the time the brushes Bi are sensing the 9" relays ZRUI, ZRTI, ZRHI.

index-point positions, and similarly for the other index-point positions.

The continuous segments 5'! are connected to relays RUI, RTI, RHI (Fig. 41:) while the continuous segments 58 are connected to zoning In function and operation these relays are equivalent to the relays RUI, RTI, RH! in Fig. 6, the three additional relays ZRUI, ZRTI, ZRI-Il being used to compare perforations in the 0", 11" and 12" positions of the card with the settings of brushes 52c, Md. The control of the relays ZRUI, ZRTI, ZRHl is dependent upon the positions of the brushes 52c, 52d as will be made clearer hereinafter by means of specific illustrations.

A second set of six relays is provided for each selector unit and are designated RU2, RTZ, EH2, ZRU2, ZRTZ, ZRH2. The latter correspond in function to the relays RU2, RTZ, RHZ in Fig. 6. Each of the relays designated RUl, RTI, RI-Il, ZRUI, ZRTI, ZRHI controls contacts B which may be plugged in series with the contacts Al, A2, A3 of brush relays BRHI, BRTI,

. BRUI and the coils of the relays RU2, RTZ, EH2,

ZRU2, ZRTZ, and ZRHZ, respectively between the bus'wires W5!) and WW.

The contacts Al, A2, A3 of the brush relays BRUI, BRTI, BRI-Il, etc. may be plugged in series with the contacts B of relays RUI, RTI, RHI, ZRIUI, ZRTi, ZRHI and the coils of relays RG2, RTZ, RHZ, ZRUI, ZRT2, ZRHZ, in such fashion as to divide the selector units into sections, each section being. capable of selecting records having a predetermined control number whereby it is unnecessary to provide a plurality of-separate and dependent selector units each ofa fixed capacity.

For this purpose the contacts Al, A2, A3 are arranged in groups which appear in Fig. 4b as vertical rows almost directly below but slightly to' the right of the relays RUI, RTI, RHI, ZRUI, ZRTI, ZRHi to which the contacts correspond, and the contacts Al, A2, A3 of each group are connected by a common wire to the contacts B and are individually connected to plug sockets PSI5, PSI6, and PS. As an example, the contacts Al, A2, A3 of the group corresponding to the extreme right-hand relay RUI in Fig. 4b are arranged in a vertical row connected to contacts B of this relay RUI by a common wire and are individually connected to the plug sockets PSI5,

PSIB, and PSI 1, respectively.

' Al, A2,.A3. In Fig. 4b, the dotted lines show a method of plugging the foregoing relays which is equivalent to the connection of the relays RUZ, RT2, RHZ in Fig. 6. This method of plugging places the coil of relay RUZ, for example, in series with the contacts A3 of relay BRUI and the contacts B of relay RUI. Similarly, the contacts B of relay ZRUI are placed in series with contacts A3 of relay BRUI and the coil of relay ZRU2. This places the relays RUZ and ZRUZ, which correspond to the units denominational order of unit No. 1 in Fig. 4b under control of the iuiits relays RUl, ZRUI and BRUI.

The relays RUI, RT2, RH2, ZRUZ, ZRT2, ZRHZ each control contacts 0 and D. These relays are associated in pairs, for example, relays RU2, ZRUI are both associated with a single order, relays RT2, ZRT2 with another, and so forth. -The contacts 0 and D are closed whenever the coils of all the relays for one order are energized. For convenience in illustrating how a comparison is effected between the selector units of Fig. 4a and the designations in the record, reference will be had to the units order of unit No. 1, Fig. 4a which it will be assumed is set to represent A" as in Fig. 3. This means that the brush We will be resting upon the "1" segment 58b, while the brush 52d will be resting upon segment 59b. The letter "A" will be remembered as represented by a hole in the 12" position and a hole in the 1" position in a single column of the card.

While the card perforated to represent "A is passing the brushes BI, two circuits will be established, one at the "1 point in the cycle and another at the 12" point in the cycle. At the 1 point in the cycle a circuit will be established through the mailer brush BI as follows: Line wire WI3 (Fig. 41!), wire IS, the commutator CI through the "1 segment, the brush CIBI, contact roller CRI, brush Bi, a plug wire, and the brush relay BRUI (Fig. 4b), to line wire W. The energization of the relay BRUI momentarily closes all contacts A3 of this relay. At the same time, the emitter EI will close a circuit leading from the wire WI 3 (Fig. 4a) through the "1 segment of the emitter, the vertical wire WI (Fig. 4a), the topmost horizontal wire WI, the topmost 1 segment 56b in the extreme righthand column, brushes 52a, 52b, the continuous segment 51 at the extreme right, the coil of relay RUI (Fig. 4b), and wire W40 to the line wire W. The extreme right-hand relay RUI closes its contacts B which have been plugged in series with a pair of contacts A3 of relay BRUI now closed. The relay RU2 is thereby energized by a circuit extending from line wire WIS (Fig. 4b) wire W50, contacts B of relay RUI, contacts A3 of relay BRUI, the coil of relay RUI, and bus wire W10 to the line wire Wll. Thus, at the "1 point in the cycle, the extreme righthand relay RUZ closes its contacts and establishes a holding circuit for itself extending from line wire WI3 through contacts CCI (now closed, Fig. 5), wire W60, contacts C of relay R02, the coil of relay RU2, and wire W to the line wire WII. Thus it will be seen that, with respect to the units order of unit No. 1, the relay RU2 is energized when a card designated "A" in the proper column is sensed.

At the "12 point in the cycle a similar circuit is established through the brush BRUI in consequence of the "12 hole in the card. This circuitis similar to the one established by the "1 hole and need not be described. At the same time the emitter El will close a circuit as follows: Line wire WI3 (Fig. 4a), the "12" segment of emitter EI, the wire WI2, the segment 59b at the extreme right in Fig. 4a, the continuous segment 58, the coil of the extreme righthand relay ZRUI (Fig. 4b) and wire W40, to line wire W. The relay ZRUI functions in exactly the same fashion as the nearest relay RUI on the right and causes the energization of the extreme right-hand relay ZRU2, a similar holding circuit for this relay being established between wires W60 and W10 as for the relay RU2.

When the analysis of the card is completed both of the relays RUZ and ZRU: will be in energized condition and will be holding closed their contacts D. This causes a circuit to be established through the extreme right-hand relay RU3 (Fig. 4b) which is associated with the units order of unit No. 1. there being three relays RUl, RTI, and RH! associated with each selector unit including unit No. 1. This circuit extends as follows: Line wire WIS, wire WIS, contacts D of relays RU: and ZRU2, the coil of the relay RUI, and wire W", to line wire WM.

.Relay RUI closes its contacts E to establish a holding circuit for itself extending from wire WIS (Fig. 4b), through contacts CCI, wire Wll, contacts E of relay RUS, the coil of said relay, and wire WIT, to line wire W. The relays RUI, RT3, and RH3 in this case function similarly to the relays RU2, RT2, and RH! in Fig. 6 dealing with the simple case of numerical selection and each opens contacts F and closes contacts G.- The contacts F and G have the same function in Fig. 4c as the contacts F and G in Fig. 6 and may be plugged to relays RI, R2, etc., in the same fashion as in Figs. 4c, 9, or 10.

Ii the setting of unit No. 1 agrees exactly with the designations in the card in all three columns corresponding to the three relays RU3, RTI, RHI, all of the contacts G of these relays will be closed and all contacts F opened. For instance, if plug wires are inserted between the plug sockets PS5, PS0. and PSIO as in Fig. 4c, a-circuit will be established as follows: Line wire WI! (Fig. 40), contacts CO2; wire W80, the plug wire between plug sockets PS5, PS0; contacts G of the relays EH2, RT2, RUZ; the plug wire between plug sockets PS5, PSIO, relay RI, and wire W00, to the line wire WI 4. Relay R0 establishes a'holding circuit for itself through its contacts I-rextcndingfrom line wire WIS, through contacts CCI. the contacts H and the coil of relay Rt, and wire W00 to line wire WII. The relay Rig also closes its contacts I to render the emitter E2; effective during the following cycle to cause the disposition of the card in the "11 pocket as described above. A plug wire is inserted between the plug socket PS6 associated with the relay Rig and a plug socket PS1 associated with the 511" segment of emitter E2. The foregoing desc ption assumes that every column contains al abetic designations.

ow let it be assumed that instead of being set at A" the units order of unit No. 1 was set at "J" (represented by 1" and "11 holes) and that a card designated "J" in the units column is sensed by brush BI. Similarcircuits will be established and the relay RU! will be energized as before, but in this case the circuits for relay ZRUI will be established at the 11 point through wire WII, the brushes 52c, 52d and segment 50c instead of the segment'iiib. The circuit for relay RUI will be established through wire WI and the "1 segment 56c instead of "1 segment 5512. In a similar fashion, if the selector is set at "s and the card happened to be designated 8" (represented by "2" and 0" holes), for example, the emitter EI will close circuits through its 2" segment, the wire W2, the "2" segment 50d and also through the "(1" segment wire W0, brushes 52c, 52d, and the seg-' ment 50d for the units order of unit No. 1. The relays designated by the prefix Z may be termed zoning relays since the 0," l1, and 12" holes which control the energization of these relays are usually termed zoning holes. The purpose in providing the zoning relays is to enable the selector units to discriminate between those characters which are designated alike in respect to the positions 1 to 9, but differ in respect to the designations "0." 11" and "12."

The selector units not only are capable of selecting according to alphabetic designations,

but are also capable of selecting when the cards are merely numerically designated. Owing to the provision of the additional circuits for the zoning control, it is necessary that the operation of numerical selection be efiected slightly clifierently than in the simple case first described in conjunction with Figure 6. This is due to the fact that both relays RU! and ZRU2, for example, corresponding to the units order of a selector unit must be energized in order to energize the associated relay RU3. In other words, when there is no 0, 11, or 12 hole present, but merely a hole in one of the positions to 9, inclusive, it is necessary to invariably energize the relays ZRUI and ZRU2 as well as the relays EU! and RU2.

Thi invariable energization of the zoning relays is effected by parallel circuits as follows: Line wire W|3 (Fig. 4a), contacts CC'I, wire Will, the segments 59c, the brushes 52c, 52d, the continuous segments 58 and the coils of relays ZRUl, ZRTI, ZRHI (Fig. 4b), and the wire W40,

to line wire WM. When the setting wheels 50 are set to any one of the numerical positions 0 and 1 to 9, inclusive, the corresponding brush 52d will rest upon segment 59e. Thus it will be seen that when the cards are numerically designated in one or more columns, each of the relays ZRUI and ZRTI and ZRHI which correspond to a columralacking one of the zoning holes in the 0, 11,? or 12" positions, but having a single hole in one of the other positions, including the 0" position, will be automatically energized. A 0 hole in any column is not considered a zoning hole when occurring alone. At the same time one or more of the relays RU2, RT2, RH! will be energized under control of the holes in the 0 to 9" positions in the manner described above, through wires W!) to W9 and segments, 56c, whereby for each zoning relay which is energized the corresponding relay RUI, RTI, RHl will be energized. Thus for those columns which contain only a hole in one of the positions 09 inclusive, the corresponding relay RU3, RT3 or RH3 will be energized upon an agreement between the card and the selector unit.

This makes it possible to select cards bearing combinations of numerical and alphabetical data such as addresses, stocknumbers, style numbers, model numbers, etc., in which letters and numerals are commonly combined, by merely setting one of the selector units to correspond. For instance, a classification such as style No. 2AA may be selected by merely setting one of the selector units to 2 in the hundreds order and to A" in the units and tens orders, respectively.

Obviously, with the selector units of suitable capacity, cards bearing names and addresses may be selected in accordance with both the name and address or the address alone as well as in accordance with account numbers and numerical data.

The blank card control functions substantially the same in Fig. 4c as in Fig. 6 and may be plugged in identically the same fashion as described heretofore with reference to Figs. 6, 9, and 10, but there are certain conditions calling for use of the blank card control which arise in selecting alphabetically designated cards that do not arise as a rule when the cards are designated numerically. Heretofore, in discussing the blank card control, it was assumed that there were no blank columns occurring in a. field between the columns having holes but that only the remainother words, no cases were considered where the numbers are split by blank columns requiring that the selector units be correspondingly set to the blank position between those orders which must be set to represent numbers or letters.

In the recording 'of alphabetic data, it is quite common to provide spacing columns to separate the parts of alphabetic data in order that the printing of such data by the tabulating machines maybe easily readable. Thus, a name like John Smith requires at least ten columns with the fifth column from the left blank. Furthermore, in the recording of alphabetic data the unused columns will usually appear at the right-hand side of the field, instead of at the left as in the case of numbers. It is very common also in recording addresses on the card to commence with the first column of a field on the left, placing the number of the street in the first few columns, then leave a blank space and finally the name of the street. Patent No. 2,079,422 illustrates the common method of punching the alphabetic field with names. Usually the surname is placed in the extreme left-hand columns of the field and the given name or initials are placed in the columns on the right immediately following. This practice in perforating the cards requires that the blank card control be made effective for the columns which are left blank to space the parts of alphabetic data on each other.

When cards are identified by alphabetical data or combinations of alphabetical data and numerical data, involving the use of spacing columns and necessitating that the first column on the left be utilized as the starting point for perforating the data in the field as is usual with names and addresses, the selector units in use at any one time must all have the same capacity, in respect to the number of denominational orders involved, as the maximum number of columns which are likely to be needed. In other words, if the purpose is to select cards designated by names, the selector units must all comprise as many orders as the number of columns required to record the longest name, including the spacing columns. Thus, in order to be useful for selecting names alone, it is desirable that the selector units comprise at least twenty denominational orders. It will also be necessary, in setting the selector unit, to set the wheels 50 in the same relative positions in the selector units as thecorresponding holes appear in the card field. Thus, to set the selector units to select a name like John Smith, it is first necessary to set the five highest order wheels 50 of a selector unit to represent John, then set the sixth order from the left to the blank position, set the next five orders to represent Smith, and finally set the remaining orders down to and including the units order to the blank position. The reason for doing this is that the cards will be placed in the hopper face down with the 9 positions nearest the brushes Bl. Alternatively it would be necessary to set the units order of the selector unit unit because the names and addresses will appear in reverse when viewing the selector unit and mistakes can easily occur in setting the selector unit. The most logical way of setting the wheels 50 of any unit is to begin at the left with the initial letter of the surname and proceed to the right as in writing. It is mainly for this reason that the contacts of relays RU3, RTl, EH3, etc.,

are individually connected to plug sockets and, in what has been considered the units position with reference to Figs. 4c and 6. An extra set of contacts F has been provided, although such contacts are not required for the illustrative examples which have been given heretofore. As will be seen later, the adaptation of the selector units to be split into sections will make it necessary that each relay of each group RU3, RT3, etc., be provided with both F and G contacts. When it is desired to render the blank card control efiective with respect to any spacing column, the contacts F of the relay RU3, RT3, or RH3 corresponding to that column are placed in series with the contacts G of the remaining relays R03, RT3, etc., of the selector unit whereby, on the occurrence of a perforation other than in the column for which the blank card control is effective, the contacts F will open and prevent operation of the particular one of relays RI, R2, etc., exactly as described in conjunction with Figure 6. The card blank control is rendered effective. for any order bysetting the wheel 50 for such order to the position denoted by the blank face 50a in Fig. 3 which causes the brush 52a to take a position on the blank segment 56a. This blank control is operative regardless of whether or not the remaining orders of the selector device are set toselect cards with numerical data or alphabetic data. For example, let it be assumed that the hundreds order of selector unit No. 1 (Fig. 4a) is set to the blank position and the remaining orders are set to represent alphabetical or numerical data. The closure of contacts C04 establishes a circuit from the line wire Wi3, through the brushes 52a, 52b for the hundreds order, blank segment 58a, the continuous segment 51, relay RHI, and wire W40, to line wire W. A parallel circuit is also established through the brushes 52c, 52d and segment 59a to the continuous segment 58 for the hundreds order, the relay ZRHI, and wire W40 to line wire Wl4. Consequently, both relays RH! and ZRHI and their companion relays ZRH2, RHI, RH3 will be energized whenever a perforation other than zero appears in the hundreds column, thereby causing the contacts F of relay RH3 to open. In this case the blank control is rendered eflective for the hundreds order of unit No. 1 by means of plug wires as illustrated at the left in Fig. 9 by the plugging of unit No. 2 whereby the opening of contacts F of relay RH3 for unit No. 1 will prevent energization of the relay RI. Thus unit No. 1 will select cards which agree with the setting of the units and tens orders only when the hundreds column of the card is blank or contains a "0 hole.

There are certain conditions which are met in dealing with cards bearing alphabetical desigsignations which must be taken into consideration in setting the selector units. The description up to the present covers relatively simple cases like stock numbers and model numbers which may be recorded similarly to account numbers in which some of the left-hand columns in the card field will be blank. In other words, a classification like style N0. 2A6 can be recorded in a six column field by placing a "6" hole in the first column on the right, treating. this as the units order, then recording the letter A and the numeral 2 in tens and hundreds orders respectively. One

of the selector units may be set correspondingly,

perforate the cards are not equipped with decimal.

tabulating mechanism enabling the card carriage to be moved directly to the first column to be punched. In other words, in afield assigned to the reception of combination alphabetical and numerical data such as style numbers which are not to be added but are merely to be printed by the tabulating machine, the numbers can be placed in the left-hand columns and it is not necessary that such data be denominationally located in the right-hand columns of a field as I must be the case with amounts. This is because the units, tens, hundreds, etc., orders for the card field must coincide denominationally with the accumulator positions of the tabulating machine. Thus, after punching an amount field immediately to the left of the style number field, the operator will find it more convenient to proceed immediately with the punching of the style num. her and, when this is completed, press the usual skip key to enable the card carriage to move automatically to the first column of the next field to be punched, skipping those columns at the righthand side of the field which would ordinarily receive the units, tens. hundreds, etc., orders of amounts. Thus a style number like 2A6 can be recorded in the style number field by punching a 2 in the first column, an A in the next succeeding column on the right, and a 6 in the third column from the left. The selector units can be set accordingly, beginning at the left, and, with a 6 column field the units, tens and hundreds orders of the selector unit can be set at the blank position and the F contacts 01 relays RU3, RTI, EH3 of the selector unit can be plugged in series with the contacts G for the remaining orders. It will be understood, of course, that with this illustrative example, there will be six relays like RU3, RT3, RI-I3, although not shown in the drawings for sake of simplicity. This illustrates how the F contacts may be used in the units, tens, and hundreds orders of a selector unit in contradistinction to the examples which were first chosen above dealing with numbers. Obviously, numbers may also be selected in the same way even though the punching of such numbers in the card begins with the first column on the left instead of with the proper denominational order near the middle of the field.

The blank card control makes it possible to select cards with hyphenated names like Hall- Smith or foreign names like De Valera, or cards in which the discrimination between names must be based on the first and middle initials of the names or upon the middle name and the given name. Thus-in the case of names like Smith, Green, Jones, etc., which are very common, the discrimination must be based upon the initials of the name or the middle name and given name. The blank cardcontrol makes it possible to discriminate between two names which are identical 

